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sockiescat · 01-07-2006, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mindful

"Lar" wrote in message
t...
In article , says...

"Lar" wrote in message
t...
In article , "Matthew
Reed" nospam at zootal dot com nospam says...
These pests are devestating my cukes, squash, and are nibbling
on my beans and sunflowers. I don't want to use the chemicals because the
plants are starting to produce - my zuccinnis are exploding, cukes are
blooming, etc.
What works with these things, but won't render the fruit of the
plants inedible?
There are BT strains for beetles, but not sure if I have ever
seen it on the consumer market yet....pyrethrum spray has no residual so a
spraying at night should help a lot and not bother your harvest time.
Lar

In my experience Pyrethrum has little effect on these beetles and the
damage they do.

Pyrethrum is a continual use product for population reduction. Many feel
a spray or two and they should have results they want. It only kills
what it contacts so the next few days a new population can make their
way to the crops and look to have done no good at all. A nightly
application for one to two weeks will show results and then start again
as needed.
--
Lar

They spray was dripping off the beetles. When I went back in a few hours to
check they were all still there. I didn't appear to have killed any. They
decimated the crape myrtle and cannas last summer.

i dont know if this would help or not but maybe try using cayenne pepper just sprinkle it around and see what happens. i dont think the bugs will like that taste much once they decide to take a munch.
it shouldnt hurt your plants and from the sounds of things its well worth the try anyways cause otherwise u might end up getting your garden chewed right up

. good luck, sockiescat